NBA Rumors: Clippers Taking Threat Of Spurs Signing Chris Paul ‘Very Seriously’
The Los Angeles Clippers failed to live up to expectations once again in the NBA playoffs this year after losing to the upstart Utah Jazz in seven games in the first round.
Although Blake Griffin was out with a toe injury, the Clippers couldn’t overcome the Jazz and now their future is uncertain, to say the least. Both Chris Paul and Griffin can leave the team in free agency this summer and there appears to be a good chance that one or both do end up taking another offer come July.
According to NBA Insider Marc Stein, Paul could receive interest from the San Antonio Spurs and that has the Clippers quite concerned even though they can offer over $200 million to the veteran point guard:
The Clippers, I'm told, take the threat of a Spurs free-agent pursuit of Chris Paul very seriously despite SA's current lack of cap space.
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) May 26, 2017
The Spurs are a team on the verge of a new era with Gregg Popovich still leading the way, but Tim Duncan already retired and Manu Ginobili potentially leaning that way this summer. Tony Parker isn’t getting any younger at 35 and his replacement needs to come sooner rather than later if Popovich and company are going to capitalize on Kawhi Leonard as their superstar.
Paul makes a lot of sense for the Spurs as they look for another star play to pair with Leonard. The passionate point guard still has some elite years left in him and could be the ideal fit in San Antonio if he’s willing to take an enormous pay cut for a better situation away from Los Angeles.
As for the Clippers, Doc Rivers and company will hope to keep the team intact while potentially pursuing Carmelo Anthony or another star in a trade. Los Angeles may be able to keep it together while adding another star into the mix or they could be a drastically different team next season with rebuilding potentially being the way they’re forced to go.
